Volume 3 - Number 4 - Internet and Cell Phone Based Smoking Cessation Programs Among Adolescents - Study Review 2005-2009

Oct 15, 2026

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Smoking cessation among adolescents is a public health priority because it helps prevent risky health behavior and reduces long-term harms. The study reviews interventions from 2005 to 2009 that used Internet or cell-phone delivery for ages 11–19, based on systematic searches of CINAHL, ERIC, Google Scholar, and Medline. Ten articles met inclusion criteria. Programs with Internet use as an adjunct and those combining approaches were more effective than Internet-only designs, while self-efficacy, household and social support, and perceived benefits predicted cessation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Determinants of Smoking Cessation

Household and social support systems

Self-efficacy and perceived benefits

Technology-based interventions (Internet and cell phones)

Volume 3, Number 4, 2010 INTERNET AND CELL PHONE BASED SMOKING CESSATION PROGRAMS AMONG ADOLESCENTS Purvi Mehta, Manoj Sharma Abstract: Smoking cessation among adolescents is a salient public health issue, as it can prevent the adoption of risky health behaviors and reduce negative impacts on health. Self-efficacy, household and social support systems, and perceived benefits are some important cessation determinants. With the popular use of the Internet and cell phone usage among adolescents, smoking cessation programs are beginning to adopt these new delivery methods. The purpose of the study is to review interventions between 2005 and 2009 that used the Internet or cell phones for smoking cessation among 11 to 19 year olds. A systematic search of the CINAHL, ERIC, Google Scholar, and Medline databases was done. A total of 10 articles met the inclusion criteria. Interventions mainly used the Internet as a form of assistance to enhance the effectiveness of the program. One intervention used text messaging through cell phones. Self-efficacy, household and social support systems and perceived benefits were found to be significant predictors. Programs with multiple approaches, using the Internet as an adjunct were more effective than programs that solely relied on the Internet. Future research is needed to verify its success in cessation practices. Recommendations for future research are provided. Keywords: smoking cessation, adolescents, internet, cell phone, intervention Introduction Smoking in adolescents is a public health concern due to its impact of adopting risky health behaviors as they become adults [1] . In 2008, one in every five deaths was attributed to smoking cigarettes, which resulted in 5.1 million years of potential life that was lost [1] . Reports from 2007 revealed that 20% of high school students were smoking cigarettes. On a daily basis, an estimate of 4,000 adolescents smoked a cigarette for the first time. While the number of adolescents who smoke remain high, it is important to note that smoking in adolescents has reduced since 1997. Prevalence of adolescents smoking in 1997 was about 70.4% and this reduced to 50.3% by 2007 [2] . It is important to note that this reduction was also seen due to a lower number of adolescents reporting use of cigarettes, which still puts cigarette use as a public health concern. Adult smokers typically had their first cigarette as an adolescent [3] . Of all adult smokers, approximately 89% of them had their first cigarette before the age of 18. Experimenting with cigarettes is a common behavior in high school students, which can lead them to become regular smokers and also exposes them to greater health risks. These risks consist of lung cancer, emphysema, chronic lung diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, 84% of those that began smoking felt they could not quit and were noted to be more vulnerable to nicotine dependence. Interestingly, of the adolescents that had smoked at least once a day for a month, 79.2% had tried to quit but failed due to dependence. Adolescents exhibit similar addictive behaviors to cigarettes as adults do. As smoking increases in adolescents, nicotine dependence enhances proportionally, which causes them to continue smoking as adults. Thus, determinants of smoking cessation in adults apply to adolescents as well. Determinants of Smoking Cessation Household and social support systems are a couple of variables that determine whether adolescents will try smoking or not [4] . Those that smoked reported at least one parent that smoked in the household. This allowed for a lack of disapproval of smoking from parents. Smoking was viewed as a Received 22 April 2010, accepted 1 June 2010, published 31 December 2010. normal behavior. In regards to their social networks, school connectedness is an integral determinant. School connectedness is a broad spectrum which consists of social support, belonging and engagement. Not o

FAQs

What was the study’s purpose regarding adolescent smoking cessation?

To review interventions from 2005 to 2009 that used the Internet or cell phones for smoking cessation among 11 to 19 year olds.

Which databases were searched for the review?

CINAHL, ERIC, Google Scholar, and Medline were searched systematically.

What factors were found to significantly predict cessation?

Self-efficacy, household and social support systems, and perceived benefits were identified as significant predictors.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Putri